Amusement device



Dec. 8, 1931.

C. V. SHIPLEY l AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1929 VCaz/y f Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES s 335,908 i y.

CARL V: SHIPLEY, or CHICAGO, :minors 'y AMUSEMENT DEVICE v Application led November 4, 1929. Serial No.k404=,633.`

' This invention relates to amusement devices.

One object of the invention is to provide in connection with a container, concealed means, normally maintained inactive when the container is rest-ing on a support, for effecting violent vibrations of the container and producing a noise when the vvcontainer is lifted from. the support, thereby causing the person handling the container to be startled or surprised, to the amusement of onlookers.

:brother-object of the invention is to proi vire in connection with acontainerrin the form of a box, such as is ordinarily employed as a container for matches,`means for effecting vibrations of the box when the same is lifted, wherein the means for causing the vibrations is concealed within the box and 2o is normally held in inoperative condition by means extending through the bottom of the box and held in locking positionl when the box resting on a support by engagement with the support and is released by lifting of the box from the support to thereby unlock the vibrating means and permit the same to operate.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide sin-amusement device in the form 3o of a box having means concealed therein for causing vibrations of the box when the same is lifted, wherein the vibration producing means is of simple construction and'inexpensive to vmanufacture and includes a rotaryl shafthaving a weighted member eccentrically mounted thereon, the shaft and weight member connected thereto being. actuated bv driving means adapted to be Wound, the weighted eccentric memberv being normal-V ly held against rotation by trigger means having a portion projecting through the bottom of the box and engageable with the support on ywhich the box rests to hold the trigger engaged with the Weighted' member, the trigger being released from yholding engagement by lifting the box from the support.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming'a part 0f this tional form of match box employed for'hold.-

yprovernents in connection with a container specification, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a container in vconnection with which my improvements are embodied. Figure 2,is a longitudinal, Vertical sectional view through y y the container illustrated in Figure'l show,- 'p55 ing the improved vibrating Inechanis'mof my invention. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the line y 3 3 of Figure 2. And Figure 4 is la detailed i perspective View, broken away, of 'certain 60 parts of the winding mechanism' of.V my improved device. i'

In said drawings, Figure'l illustrates my improvements as embodied'y in `the convening safety matches. The box comprises an outerA casing 10 and a tray'member-11@y Thev casing 10 is open at opposite ends and has spaced top and bottoml walls 12 and` 13 and spaced side walls y14 and 15. VThe tray 11, which is telescoped within the casing-10,'has the usual bottom wall 16, the usual'longitudi nal side walls and transverse end walls, and is open at the top. In'carrying'out my im of the type referred to, I preferably mount thevibration producing mechanism within the tray 11 of thebox. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the vibrating mechanism proper comprises a Weighted-member 17 in the form of an eccentric, fixed to a horizontally -disposed shaft 18'suitably'supported in the'tray and actuated by 'anys'uitable'm'eans adapted to be wound. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the' shaft 18 is shown as actuated by a helical spring- 19 which surrounds the shaft 1,8, one end of the spring being fixed to thevshaft as indicated at 2O and theother end being 'secured to a winding element in the form of a ygear 21. The corresponding end of the spring 19 may be Vsecured to the member 21 by engaging the extremity of the coil of the spring `in an opening provided in the hub of the member t 21,'although any other suitable manner of 95v securing the same may be employed. The rotary shaft 18 is supported at opposite ends by brackets 22 and '23 which are-directly secured to the bottom wall of the tray. 'The bracket 23 is disposed inwardly of the eccen- 100 f its tric member 17 and has a journal opening therethrough in which the corresponding end portion of the shaft 18 is rotatably mounted. The bracket 22 is provided with a journal opening in which a reduced portion 24; of the hub of the gear member 21 is rotatable. rlhe gear member 21 is loosely mounted on the corresponding end of the shaft 18 so that the shaft and gear member are relatively rotatable freely with respect to each other. VThe gear member 21 cooperates with a second gear member 25 which is rotatably supported on a bracket 26 secured to the bottom wall of the tray 11. As shown, the bracket 26 has a pair of horizontal flanges yby whichthe same is secured tothe bottom vwall of the tray, a horizontal wal1 spaced above thelanges and vertical walls connect ing the horizontal wall and the flanges. rlhe ...gear 25 `is supported on the horizontal top Y wall of the bracket 26 and is secured toa inafter kpointed out.

relatively short shaft 27 which extends through the ltop wall of the bracket and has portion 28 thereof projecting` below said wall of the bracket. The section 28 as shown .is preferably of square cross section so as to cooperate with a winding key 29. Both of 'the gear members 21 and 25 are provided with teeth 2.9-29 which arein' intermeshingrelation, the gear 21 being disposed in vertical .position and at .right-angles to the gear 25.

The teeth A29 of the two gears are of like design and are .preferably formed by simple stamping operations, each of the teethr 29 being inthe form of a projecting finger having a rounded outer end. The gear 25 is .rotated inV a clockwise. direction, as viewed :from the top .in Figure il, when themecha- .nism is being `wound by'thekey 29. Through -the inter-engaging teeth of the two gears,

the gear 21 is rotated and the spring 19 .is wound upon the shaft 18, the shaft being at thisy time held stationary in manner here- The shaft 27 may be fixed to the gear25 in any suitable manner and is preferably of such a size as yto 'have ladriving fit with the opening in the gear.

Below the upper member of the bracket 26, the shaft 27 is provided with a collar 30 bearing on the bottom face of theupper memberof the bracket so as to :hold Vthe gear 25 vin position. j The tray 11 of the'boX and the casing are provided with suitable valined openingsl and 131 yrespectively in. the bottom thereof through which the `key 29` may -be inserted for winding the mechanism.

In. order to prevent backward rotation of the gears and 21,1 provide akeeper in the form Aof a `rod or resilient wire member .32.

through theopening between `the legs of the .bracket 22 and has vthe upper extremity fthereof projecting between tl e gears in advanceof that ,point vwhere the teeth thereof interengage. The bottom horizontal section .shaft 18 and the gear 21 relatively to each other, backward rotation of the vgear 21 will be prevented by the keeper 32 becoming jammed betweenv the teeth of the gears 21 and 25.V 'Y

` To hold the mechanism in inoperative con* dition when wound, I provide a trigger 33, the samebeing pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the bottom wall of the tray 11.

As shown, the trigger lhas a straight* section which extends substantially parallel to the shaft and anl angular section which extends downwardlyand is curvedon the are of a circle having the pivotal axis of the member. 33 asa center. Y The .trigger is so loof the rod or wire 32 is secured to the foot Y cated that whenv it is disposed in the position shown in Figures 2V and 3,.it will engage the side edge of the eccentric 17 and hold the same against rotation in a right hand direction as viewed vin Figure 3. Thebottom of the tray 11 and also the bottom of the outer casing. 10 ofthe box are` provided withalined openings 36-36fthrough which the curved section 35 of thetrigger extends andis adapted to move. As long as the trigger is held in the position shown in Figures 2 and .3, un?

winding of the spring `19 is prevented and the member 171s held inoperative. fn order .toallow rotation of the member 17, thetrig- .ger 33 is permitted to drop so as to clear the path of rotation of the member 17. The dropping of the trigger is effected by lifting the box or container off of the support on which it rests. ln Figure 2 the container is illustrated as resting on a support designated -by the line37. inasmuch as the trigger has the section 35 thereof restino' on Athis support, when the box is on the support the trigger -will be maintained in the position shown in Figures 2 and 8. lflihenthe box. is lifted,

'the trigger' is freeitodrop through'the action of gravity. ln. order to assist this dropping action of the trigger` assure its movement iout of the path of rotationof the member 17,

l provide the member 17 witlia cam forman tion on its edge asindicated at 38. The cam face of the member 17 is soV designated that .it will force the trigger outwardly when the box `is held in such avposition that the action of the trigger is not influenced by gravity.

Endwise movement of the shaft 18, the eccentric member 17 and the gea-r 21 is prevented by providing the eccentric with a boss 39 on the inner sidethereof which bears on the 1 uter faceof the vertical section ofthe bracky Tco,

et Q3, and a head member 40 at'the opposite end of the shaft 18 engaging the outside of the gear 21, it being understood that the reduced section 24 of the gear 21 provides an annular shoulder at the hub ofthe gearwhich engages the outer side 'of the bracket 22. `As hereinbefore pointed out, the shaft 1S freely its within the gear 21 but is liXed to the eccentric member 17. The shaft may be secured to the eccentric member in any suitable manner but preferably has a driving tit in the opening of the same. ln assembly of the device, all of the parts are preferably mounted in the tray 11, as hereinbefore described, the parts being secured to the tray before the same is telescoped within the casing 10. As will be evident, the trigger 33, while telescoping the tray within the casing, must be raised to such an extent that the section 3.3 thereof is entirely withdrawn from the opening of the tray. i

In the operation of my improved amusement device, the trigger end A is first-forced upwardly until it engages the member 17, as shown in Figure 3, to hold the same against rotation while the mechanism is being wound. The key 29 is thenapplied to thewinding member 28 by inserting the samethrough openings 131 and 31, and the gearsr rotatedv through the medium of the stem 28 until the spring 19 has been wound to a sufficient e2:- tent. As will be clear at this time, rotation of the eccentric 17 in an unwinding direction will be prevented by the trigger 33, which is disposed in the pathL of rotation of the eccentric, and has the section 35 thereof supported by the bottom wall of the casing 10. Buring the winding of the mechanism, the trigger-,is held in locking position by the operator holding his finger over the opening 36 of the bottom of the casing 10 to prevent the trigger from dropping down. `Aft-er the mecl'ianism has been wound, the container is placed on a support, such as the support indicated by 37, and inasmuch as the section 35 of the trigger at this time rests upon the support, the weight of the container will maintain the trigger in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the container is lifted, the trigger 33 will be free to drop down, thus clearing the path of rotation of the eccentric 17 and permitting very rapid rotation of the same through the medium` of `the spring 19. Due to the eccentric 17 being weighted and being rotated rapidly on its eccentric axis, violent vibrations will be set up with an accompanying noise, due to the rapid movement, thus causing surprise to the party. lifting the container, to the amusement of others.

In order to prevent accidental operation of the eccentric member 17 while the container is being handled or the mechanism is being wound, I preferably provide a pivoted stop member 40 in the form of a plate mounting to allow vthe section 435 of the trigger to drop therethrough.

Although l have shown my improvements in the drawings, as embodied in a match box structure, it will be appreciated that my invention is not limited thereto, my `improvements being adapted for use in connection with any type of container' or package which when resting on a support will maintain a controlling member in such a position as to hold the motion creating vibrating means inoperative and will permit operation ofV the vibrating means by movement ofthe controlling means vwhen the container orl package is It is further pointed outthat my improvef ments are not necessarily limited to operation of the device by lifting kthe same from a support, it being possible to operate thev sameJ by holding the package in the hand'and placing a finger over the opening in the container through which the actuating member of the controlling meansoperates so as to maintain the controlling meansV in position to hold the vibrating mechanism inoperative, and removing the linger from-the opening when the package is handed to another person to permit thecontrolling means to be forced voutwardly eitherby the camming action of the eccentric or to drop by gravity, thereby allowing the vibrating meansto operate, causing vibrations of the package and noise, as hereinbefore pointed out. Y

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the "claims appended hereto.

I claim: v l

1. ln an amusement device, the combination with a container adapted to rest on a supporting means; of means within the container for effecting vibration "of the container; and means for controlling the operation of'said first named means, said controlling means normally projecting through a wall of the container and maintaining the i'irst' named means in inoperative condition by engagement with said supporting means, said controlling means being `moved relatively to the container by lifting thereontainer from said support-ing means, thereby throwingthe vibrating means into operation.

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2. In an amusement device, the combination with a container; ot means within the container tor eliecting vibration of the same; and a finger proj ecting through a Wall ot the container -for controlling the operation of said irst named means, said finger being urged outwardly, said finger when pushed inwardly and maintained in said position holding said first named means inoperative and when released, .being projected outwardly, thereby releasing the vibrating means to allow operation thereof.

3. in an amusement device, the combination with a container; of means Within the con'- tainer for eiiecting vibration of the same; and means for controlling the operation of saidv iirst named means, said controlling means in one position holding said first named means `inoperative and in another position releasing the same to allow operation thereof, said controlling means, VWhen the container is restingon a support, engaging saidV support and being held in said iirstv named position by the Weight of the container, said ccntrolling means moving to releasing position by lifting of the container from the support.

4. ln an amusement device,the combination with a container; of means Within the container for eiiccting vioration of the same; and means tor controlling the operation otv the lirst named means including a member projecting through the bottom ot the container and adapted to engage an obstruction, said controlling means in one position maintaining said first named means inoperative and in another position releasing the same to permit operation thereot, said controlling means being held in said irst named position by said member by engagement ot the member with the obstruction.y and being movable to said second named position When the obstruction is displaced.

5. in an amusement device, the combination with a container adapted to rest on a support; of means Within the container for effecting vibration of the same; and means for controlling the operation of the irst named means including a member projecting through the bottom of the container and adapted to engage said support, said controlling means' in yone position maintaining said tirst named means inoperative and in another position releasing the same to permit operation thereof, said controlling means being held in said iirst named position by said member when the container is resting on the supp-ort, by engagement ot said memberWith the support and being moved to said second named position when the `container is raised Jfrom the support to permit operation ot the vibrating means. y

6.V In an amusement device, the combination with a container adapted to rest on a support; of means concealed Within the container for effecting vibrations of the same, including a Weighted member rotatable about an eccentric axis; and a trigger member cooperating with said Weighted member, saidV trigger member inone position thereof locling said Weighted member against rotation and in another position thereof releasing the same, said trigger member having a portion 'thereof extending through the bottom of the support; of a rotary shaft mounted Within` the container; a Weighted member eccentrically connected to the shaft; means adapted to be Wound for ciiecting operation of said shaft and Weighted member; and a trigger for controlling the operation ot' said Weighted member, said trigger having a portion thereof ext-ending through the bottom of the container and engaging said support to hold the trigger in position to prevent operation ot said shaft and Weighted member When the container is resting onrthe support.

'8. ln an amusement device, the combination with a container; of a Weighted member Within said container rotatable about an eccentric axis to effect vibration of the container; means adapted to be Wound for effecting rotation of' said member; and trigger means for controlling the operation of said member, said triggermeans having a portion by which the same is actuated, said portion projecting through a Wall of the container. v

9. In an amusement device, the combina-V tion with a container adapted to rest on a support; of a m-ember Within the container mounted Jfor rotation about an eccentric axis; a movable locking trigger' adapted to be interposed in the path ot rotation ot said mem-k `Wound for actuating said eccentric and rotating the same at high speed; and movable trigger means tor controlling the operation of said eccentric member having an arm eX- tending through a Wall of the container and lli) adapted to project therefrom, said trigger being movable to a position inwardly of the container to hold'the eccentric against rotation.

11. In an amusement device, the combination with a container; of an eccentric rotatably mounted in said container; means for actuating said eccentric and rotating Athe same at high speed; and movable means for controlling the operation of said eccentric member; said movable means having an arm extending through an opening in the wall.

of the container and projecting outwardly of the container7 said arm being displaceable inwardly of the box to position said controlling means to hold .the eccentric against rotation, and said arm being forced outwardly of the container by the action of said eccentric to release the eccentric and permit rotation of the same.

12. In an amusement device, the combination with a container; of a shaft rotatably mounted within the container and having a weighted eccentric fixed to one end thereof; means adapted to be wound for rotating said shaft; and means for winding said last named meansA including a pair of cooperating gear members having interengaging teeth; and means engaging between the gear teeth adapted to jam when said gears are rotated in one direction and adapted to yield when the gears are rotated in the reverse direction during the winding movement thereof.

13. In an amusement device, the combination with a container; of a shaft rotatably mounted in the container and having a weighted eccentric fixed to one end thereof;

means for rotating said shaft including a spiral spring having one end fixed to said shaft; and means for winding said spring including a gear member loosely mounted on the rotatable shaft and having the other end of the spring xed thereto, said gear being held against rotation in an unwinding direction. y Y

14. In an amusement device, the combination with a container comprising a casing open at opposite ends and a telescoping tray slidably disposed within the casing; of an eccentric rotatably mounted within the tray ;j

means adapted to be wound for actuating said eccentric also mounted in the tray; and

f movable trigger means for controlling the operation of said eccentric member, said trigger means being mounted in the tray and having an arm adapted to project through an opening provided in the bottom of the tray.

15. In an amusement device, the combination with a container adapted to be placed on a supporting surface; of means within the container for effecting vibration of the container; and means controlling the operation of said first named means, said conis resting thereon, said controlling means being released by removing the container from the supporting surface to thereby set 'i the vibrating means in operation. p,

In witness that I claim ythe foregoing I have hereuntoV subscribed my name this 23rd day of October', 1929. c

f CARL V. SHIPLEY. 

